I am now a big fan of Annie Proulx's work! In the beginning, it was a bit of a difficult read since Annie wrote phonetically, writing the way the people there would speak. However, as the story progressed, I began to care for the main character, Bob Dollar, as he tried to make something of his life. What is wonderful about this book is how Proulx describes the Texas and the Oklahoma panhandle - the history, the geography, the flora and fauna, and the people who live in it - you could actually breathe in the heat and the aroma of the place!
Also, there are many interesting characters in the book, and in some parts, the book sounds like a diatribe against big corporations trying to destroy the current landscape of the Texas panhandle. It sounds like Proulx wants to save this place from the encroachment of corporate America - symbolized here by the hog farm industry. I also love the description of the food in the book! The abundance of meat and the esoteric things they also eat make it very interesting read.
Before, I was not a fan of cowboy books and books about the American West but since I started reading Larry McMurtry and Annie, my eyes were opened to this wonderful landscape of interesting characters whose lives are anchored by the combined savagery and beauty of the place!
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